Menlo Park approves pair of 4-story office buildings

Courtesy of The Sobrato Organization
An artist's rendering of office buildings The Sobrato Organization intends to build in Menlo Parkís Belle Haven neighborhood.
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Courtesy of The Sobrato Organiza
)

A prominent developer has gotten the green light to construct two gold-certified office buildings in Menlo Park's Belle Haven neighborhood.

On Tuesday night, the City Council approved The Sobrato Organization's $106 million project. In addition to the four-story buildings that will total 259,920 square feet, the Cupertino-based developer intends to provide 867 parking spaces on a 13.3-acre site at 151 Commonwealth and 164 Jefferson drives.

The Diageo North America distillery used to operate on the property, which lies adjacent to Highway 101 and the Dumbarton Rail Corridor, until it closed in 2011. Sobrato unveiled the project in 2012, which has since become known as the Commonwealth Corporate Center.

According to city contract planner David Hogan, the development will send almost $2 million over its first 15 years to Menlo Park's general fund.

Sobrato also will pay approximately $1.85 million for below-market housing and $655,000 in transportation impact fees.

Because traffic congestion is a concern in the M-2 industrial district where the buildings will be located, Sobrato has committed to upgrading intersections at Marsh Road and Bayfront Expressway, and Constitution Drive and Chilco Street, among others. It also will extend sidewalks along Jefferson and Chrysler drives and connect them.

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Richard Truempler, Sobrato's development director, pointed out that the neglected industrial site will reap two LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) gold-certified buildings. In addition, he said, the organization plans to contribute $150,000 to the city's capital improvement projects and share the cost of replacing a water main that runs under the complex's site.

"This represents a significant investment for us," Truempler said.

Representatives of local nonprofits such as InnVision Shelter Network, JobTrain and the Ravenswood Education Foundation spoke on behalf of The Sobrato Organization, which they said has been a generous donor over the years.

Menlo Park Chamber of Commerce board member Harry Bims said he'd like to see a portion of the $150,000 for capital improvements spent to widen a bicycle lane along Chilco Street where a couple was fatally struck by a car in October.

Although council members generally seemed pleased with project, Mayor Ray Mueller asked Sobrato's team to consider raising the $75,000 annual sales tax promised for 10 years. "Can you get us to $100,000?" he asked.

After conferring with his colleagues, Truempler agreed to kick in the extra $25,000 per year. He also responded to Bims' comment, pledging an additional $50,000 to improve the bike lane.

"One of the things we really try to live up to is being a partner in the community," he said.